The arden shakespeare co.., p.416
The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works, page 416
1 GENTLEMAN Nothing at all, it is a high-wrought flood:
I cannot ’twixt the haven and the main
Descry a sail.
MONTANO Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land,
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A fuller blast ne’er shook our battlements:
If it hath ruffianed so upon the sea
What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them,
Can hold the mortise? What shall we hear of this?
2 GENTLEMAN A segregation of the Turkish fleet:
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For do but stand upon the foaming shore,
The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds,
The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous mane,
Seems to cast water on the burning bear
And quench the guards of th’ever-fired pole.
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I never did like molestation view
On the enchafed flood.
MONTANO If that the Turkish fleet
Be not ensheltered and embayed, they are drowned.
It is impossible to bear it out.
Enter a Third Gentleman.
3 GENTLEMAN News, lads: our wars are done!
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The desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks
That their designment halts. A noble ship of Venice
Hath seen a grievous wrack and sufferance
On most part of their fleet.
MONTANO How? Is this true?
3 GENTLEMAN The ship is here put in,
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A Veronessa; Michael Cassio,
Lieutenant to the warlike Moor, Othello,
Is come on shore; the Moor himself at sea,
And is in full commission here for Cyprus.
MONTANO I am glad on’t, ’tis a worthy governor.
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3 GENTLEMAN
But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort
Enter CASSIO.
Touching the turkish loss, yet he looks sadly
And prays the Moor be safe, for they were parted
With foul and violent tempest.
MONTANO Pray heavens he be,
For I have served him, and the man commands
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Like a full soldier. Let’s to the seaside, ho!
As well to see the vessel that’s come in
As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,
Even till we make the main and th’aerial blue
An indistinct regard.
3 GENTLEMAN Come, let’s do so,
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For every minute is expectancy
Of more arrivance.
CASSIO Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle
That so approve the Moor. O, let the heavens
Give him defence against the elements,
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For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.
MONTANO Is he well shipped?
CASSIO His bark is stoutly timbered, and his pilot
Of very expert and approved allowance,
Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,
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Stand in bold cure.
A VOICE [within] A sail! a sail! a sail!
CASSIO What noise?
2 GENTLEMAN
The town is empty: on the brow o’th’ sea
Stand ranks of people, and they cry ‘A sail!’
CASSIO
My hopes do shape him for the governor. [a shot.]
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2 GENTLEMAN
They do discharge their shot of courtesy,
Our friends at least.
CASSIO I pray you sir, go forth
And give us truth who ’tis that is arrived.
2 GENTLEMAN I shall. Exit.
MONTANO But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?
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CASSIO Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid
That paragons description and wild fame;
One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens
And in th’essential vesture of creation
Does tire the inginer.
Enter Second Gentleman.
How now? Who has put in?
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2 GENTLEMAN
’Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.
CASSIO He’s had most favourable and happy speed.
Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds,
The guttered rocks and congregated sands,
Traitors ensteeped to clog the guiltless keel,
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As having sense of beauty, do omit
Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
The divine Desdemona.
MONTANO What is she?
CASSIO
She that I spake of, our great captain’s captain,
Left in the conduct of the bold Iago,
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Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts
A se’nnight’s speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,
And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath
That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,
Make love’s quick pants in Desdemona’s arms,
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Give renewed fire to our extincted spirits
And bring all Cyprus comfort! –
Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, RODERIGO and EMILIA.
O, behold,
The riches of the ship is come on shore:
You men of Cyprus, let her have your knees!
Hail to thee, lady, and the grace of heaven,
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Before, behind thee, and on every hand
Enwheel thee round!
DESDEMONA I thank you, valiant Cassio.
What tidings can you tell me of my lord?
CASSIO
He is not yet arrived, nor know I aught
But that he’s well, and will be shortly here.
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DESDEMONA O, but I fear … how lost you company?
CASSIO The great contention of the sea and skies
Parted our fellowship.
[A voice within: ‘A sail! a sail!’]
But hark! a sail!
[A shot is heard.]
2 GENTLEMAN
They give their greeting to the citadel:
This likewise is a friend.
CASSIO See for the news.
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Exit Gentleman.
Good ancient, you are welcome.
[to Emilia] Welcome, mistress.
Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,
That I extend my manners; ’tis my breeding
That gives me this bold show of courtesy.
[He kisses Emilia.]
IAGO Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
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As of her tongue she oft bestows on me
You’d have enough.
DESDEMONA Alas! she has no speech.
IAGO In faith, too much!
I find it still when I have list to sleep.
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
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She puts her tongue a little in her heart
And chides with thinking.
EMILIA You have little cause to say so.
IAGO
Come on, come on, you are pictures out of doors,
Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens,
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Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,
Players in your housewifery, and housewives in …
Your beds!
DESDEMONA O, fie upon thee, slanderer!
IAGO Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:
You rise to play, and go to bed to work.
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EMILIA You shall not write my praise.
IAGO No, let me not.
DESDEMONA
What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst praise me?
IAGO O, gentle lady, do not put me to’t,
For I am nothing if not critical.
DESDEMONA
Come on, assay. There’s one gone to the harbour?
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IAGO Ay, madam.
DESDEMONA I am not merry, but I do beguile
The thing I am by seeming otherwise.
Come, how wouldst thou praise me?
IAGO I am about it, but indeed my invention
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Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frieze,
It plucks out brains and all; but my muse labours
And thus she is delivered:
If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,
The one’s for use, the other useth it.
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DESDEMONA
Well praised. How if she be black and witty?
IAGO If she be black, and thereto have a wit,
She’ll find a white that shall her blackness fit.
DESDEMONA Worse and worse.
EMILIA How if fair and foolish?
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IAGO She never yet was foolish that was fair,
For even her folly helped her to an heir.
DESDEMONA These are old fond paradoxes to make
fools laugh i’th’ alehouse. What miserable praise hast
thou for her that’s foul and foolish?
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IAGO There’s none so foul, and foolish thereunto,
But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.
DESDEMONA O heavy ignorance, thou praisest the worst
best. But what praise couldst thou bestow on a
deserving woman indeed? One that in the authority of
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her merit did justly put on the vouch of very malice
itself?
IAGO She that was ever fair and never proud,
Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud,
Never lacked gold, and yet went never gay,
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Fled from her wish, and yet said ‘now I may’,
She that, being angered, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly,
She that in wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail,
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She that could think, and ne’er disclose her mind,
See suitors following, and not look behind,
She was a wight, if ever such wights were –
DESDEMONA To do what?
IAGO To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.
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DESDEMONA O, most lame and impotent conclusion!
Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy
husband. How say you, Cassio, is he not a most
profane and liberal counsellor?
CASSIO He speaks home, madam, you may relish him
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more in the soldier than in the scholar.
IAGO [aside] He takes her by the palm; ay, well said,
whisper. With as little a web as this will I ensnare as
great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do: I will gyve
thee in thine own courtesies. You say true, ’tis so
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indeed. If such tricks as these strip you out of your
lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed
your three fingers so oft, which now again you are
most apt to play the sir in. Very good, well kissed, and
excellent courtesy: ’tis so indeed! Yet again, your
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fingers to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes for
your sake! [Trumpets within]
The Moor! I know his trumpet!
CASSIO ’Tis truly so.
DESDEMONA
Let’s meet him and receive him.
Enter OTHELLO and attendants.
CASSIO Lo, where he comes!
OTHELLO O my fair warrior!
DESDEMONA My dear Othello!
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OTHELLO It gives me wonder great as my content
To see you here before me! O my soul’s joy,
If after every tempest come such calms
May the winds blow till they have wakened death,
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas,
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Olympus-high, and duck again as low
As hell’s from heaven. If it were now to die
’Twere now to be most happy, for I fear
My soul hath her content so absolute
That not another comfort like to this
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Succeeds in unknown fate.
DESDEMONA The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase
